Building on this blog post that opposes further dualling of the A1 in Northumberland, could the Northumberland Coast Loop (N.C.L.) be part of the alternative investment? The premise of the N.C.L. is to provide large towns such as Blyth, and areas such as North Tyneside a direct rail link northwards, by using the existing freightContinue reading “Developing The Northumberland Coast Loop: Better Than Dualling The A1?”
Author Archives: hogg1905
First Anniversary of the Northumberland Coast Loop Website
On the 9th of January 2024, the Northumberland Coast Loop website went live, therefore the 9th January 2025 marks the first anniversary of the website. Over the course of the past 12 months, the website has attracted visitors from across the globe, and in substantial numbers, with a little over seven and a half thousandContinue reading “First Anniversary of the Northumberland Coast Loop Website”
2Q08 – Middlesbrough Sidings to Butterwell Junction and return 8.1.25
A last minute find on Realtime Trains is the presumed test train starting at Middlesbrough Sidings at 08:35 this morning (8.1.25), due to reach Bedlington at 14:30, then taking the Hepscott Line towards Butterwell Junction, where presumably it takes refuge in the former disposal point sidings between 14:49.5 and 14:54.5, before heading back to HepscottContinue reading “2Q08 – Middlesbrough Sidings to Butterwell Junction and return 8.1.25”
Reprieve for the 08:10 CrossCountry service from Alnmouth?
This recent article from the BBC suggests that the highly popular 08:10 CrossCountry service from Alnmouth (for Alnwick) might survive the December 2025 ECML timetable change, though this is not yet certain. CrossCountry wish to maintain the service serving Alnmouth, and as a very popular on (around 100 daily users of this train are quotedContinue reading “Reprieve for the 08:10 CrossCountry service from Alnmouth?”
Connecting Alnwick and Amble to the Rail Network
This blog post sets out a few thoughts on improving the connectivity of Alnwick and Amble, both popular tourist towns to their nearest major rail station at Alnmouth on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). Alnwick to Alnmouth Station After sharing a recent blog post on the Alnwick Matters Facebook Group (image below), a numberContinue reading “Connecting Alnwick and Amble to the Rail Network”
Email to Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, can YOU help?
In the last few days, I have sent an email to Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington to ask for his support for the Northumberland Coast Loop proposal of a rail service from Newcastle to Berwick/Edinburgh via Bedlington and Hepscott. While hopefully Ian will recieve the email, the automated response that came back mentionsContinue reading “Email to Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, can YOU help?”
Just Nine Weeks To Go!
Today, Saturday 4th January 2025, marks the nine week countdown until ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’ organised by the SRPS takes to the rails on the 8th March 2025. This railtour, beginning and ending in Linlithgow, Scotland will take in a number of spectacular lines on it’s excursion around Scotland and Northern England (take a lookContinue reading “Just Nine Weeks To Go!”
Happy New Year 2025 from the Northumberland Coast Loop!
As we usher in the 25th year of the 21st Century (scary how fast that has come from those of us who remember the nervousness changing to Y2K from 31/12/1999!), I’d like to wish all of all of our supporters, followers and readers a very Happy New Year for 2025! Railtours over the N.C.L. ComingContinue reading “Happy New Year 2025 from the Northumberland Coast Loop!”
New Year’s Eve 2024: #Railway416 in the Valley of the River Blyth
As part of the Railway200 series written in the December 2024 edition of The Railway Magazine, on pages 18 and 19, is a feature for Railway200 entitled ‘Coal trains, first and last?’, written by Bob Gwynne, railway author and one of the team at the National Railway Museum. Ancient Greece is where it all began.Continue reading “New Year’s Eve 2024: #Railway416 in the Valley of the River Blyth”
Merry Christmas 2024 from the Northumberland Coast Loop Campaign
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, it has been a fantastic year for the Northumberland Coast Loop campaign. Thank you for all your support and backing our proposal for regular rail services between Newcastle and Berwick via Bedlington; it is a obvious next step after the Northumberland Line, giving greater withinContinue reading “Merry Christmas 2024 from the Northumberland Coast Loop Campaign”
The Northumberland Coast Loop 